Smart CMOS Vision Sensors in Deep Sub-0.25um CMOS Technologies. This research project aims to develop a new generation of smart vision sensors featuring on-chip and pixel-level implementation of human vision based algorithms. Built in state-of-the-art deep sub-0.25um CMOS technologies, these imagers will feature extensive in-pixel processing power in contrast to the currently commercially available CMOS vision sensors. This will enable on-chip vision-based decision making but also increased on-c ....Smart CMOS Vision Sensors in Deep Sub-0.25um CMOS Technologies. This research project aims to develop a new generation of smart vision sensors featuring on-chip and pixel-level implementation of human vision based algorithms. Built in state-of-the-art deep sub-0.25um CMOS technologies, these imagers will feature extensive in-pixel processing power in contrast to the currently commercially available CMOS vision sensors. This will enable on-chip vision-based decision making but also increased on-chip image processing. These innovative system-on-chip features will contribute towards the positioning of CMOS imaging technology as the technology of choice for most digital imaging applications, in place of the existing, and so far unchallenged, CCD technology.
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Electronic Auditory Pathway. We will develop electronic building blocks to investigate biological signal processing. In particular, we will investigate the auditory pathway and develop the most accurate electronic model of the biological cochlea and auditory nerve. These will be followed by electronic circuits that model the processing of sensory signals in the brain. Processing signals with neural spikes offers distinct advantages over current analogue and digital signal processing techniques i ....Electronic Auditory Pathway. We will develop electronic building blocks to investigate biological signal processing. In particular, we will investigate the auditory pathway and develop the most accurate electronic model of the biological cochlea and auditory nerve. These will be followed by electronic circuits that model the processing of sensory signals in the brain. Processing signals with neural spikes offers distinct advantages over current analogue and digital signal processing techniques in terms of noise, energy consumption and extraction of temporal information. We will implement the first spike-based models of pitch and timbre perception, and a neural model of speech recognition in noisy environments.Read moreRead less
A 3D CMOS Vision Sensor with Pixel Level Analog-to-Digital Converter and Intelligent Processing. The aim of this research project is to build a smart vision sensor using advanced 3D technology. The smart sensor will consist of two vertically stacked levels comprising the vision sensor chip with pixel-level Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and the processing chip for edge and motion detection. The pixel level ADC will be based on new architectures offering improved performance in terms of dynami ....A 3D CMOS Vision Sensor with Pixel Level Analog-to-Digital Converter and Intelligent Processing. The aim of this research project is to build a smart vision sensor using advanced 3D technology. The smart sensor will consist of two vertically stacked levels comprising the vision sensor chip with pixel-level Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and the processing chip for edge and motion detection. The pixel level ADC will be based on new architectures offering improved performance in terms of dynamic range, fill-factor, and signal-to-noise ratio. Both the vision and the processing chips will be realised in standard CMOS technology, which make the smart vision sensor very suitable for low cost consumer electronic applications.Read moreRead less
Design and Control of Sensorless, Brushless, Linear Permanent Magnet Motors for Fluid Pumping. Many machines require reciprocating motion and achieve it by mechanical conversion of rotary motion. In particular, pistons for liquid pumping and gas compression are usually driven by a crank on a rotary electric motor. Driving the piston directly by a linear motor eliminates the cost, weight, inefficiency and wear of the mechanical conversion. This project will design, construct and test high efficie ....Design and Control of Sensorless, Brushless, Linear Permanent Magnet Motors for Fluid Pumping. Many machines require reciprocating motion and achieve it by mechanical conversion of rotary motion. In particular, pistons for liquid pumping and gas compression are usually driven by a crank on a rotary electric motor. Driving the piston directly by a linear motor eliminates the cost, weight, inefficiency and wear of the mechanical conversion. This project will design, construct and test high efficiency, tubular, linear permanent magnet motors for fluid pumping. Further, an intelligent electronic controller will be developed to control the motor speed and reversals without sensors in the motor. Initial applications will be solar powered water pumping and purification.Read moreRead less
Development of Low Cost High Performance Motor Drives for Electrical Appliances using New Soft Magnetic Composite Materials. This project aims to break the major barrier to commercial production of efficient electrical appliances by developing low cost high performance motor drives using new soft magnetic composite materials. Initial applications will be swimming pool/spa pump drives. Optimum material composition, novel motor topologies, intelligent variable speed drive, and motor manufacturing ....Development of Low Cost High Performance Motor Drives for Electrical Appliances using New Soft Magnetic Composite Materials. This project aims to break the major barrier to commercial production of efficient electrical appliances by developing low cost high performance motor drives using new soft magnetic composite materials. Initial applications will be swimming pool/spa pump drives. Optimum material composition, novel motor topologies, intelligent variable speed drive, and motor manufacturing techniques using mould injection/compaction will be developed to reduce the production cost with improved performance in collaboration with Waterco. The new technology will contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emission by reducing energy consumption of electrical appliances and once commercialised will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Australian industry in the world market.Read moreRead less
High Efficiency Low Cost Low Noise Variable Speed Compressor Drive for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems. This project aims to break the major barriers to the commercial production of efficient refrigerators and air conditioners by developing a high efficiency low cost low noise variable speed compressor drive. High performance PM motors, power electronic fault tolerant converters/inverters, and intelligent algorithms for motor control and temperature control will be developed to meet ....High Efficiency Low Cost Low Noise Variable Speed Compressor Drive for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems. This project aims to break the major barriers to the commercial production of efficient refrigerators and air conditioners by developing a high efficiency low cost low noise variable speed compressor drive. High performance PM motors, power electronic fault tolerant converters/inverters, and intelligent algorithms for motor control and temperature control will be developed to meet the specific requirements of compressor drives in collaboration with Kirby Refrigeration. The new technology will contribute to the reduction of CO2 greenhouse gas emission by reducing the energy consumption of refrigerators and air conditioners and once commercialised will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Australian industry in the world market.Read moreRead less
Online Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System Using Active Diagnostic Sensor Network. It is imperative to remain technological leading for Australian research community. But current lack of reliable technique in structural health monitoring in Australia is considerably impeding her competition with other developed countries in areas of forefront technology. Outcomes of the project will lead to an online structural health monitoring system incorporated with active diagnostic sensor network, re ....Online Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) System Using Active Diagnostic Sensor Network. It is imperative to remain technological leading for Australian research community. But current lack of reliable technique in structural health monitoring in Australia is considerably impeding her competition with other developed countries in areas of forefront technology. Outcomes of the project will lead to an online structural health monitoring system incorporated with active diagnostic sensor network, related software and hardware, novel signal processing technique, and artificial intelligence algorithm-based damage identification scheme. Its successful applications in various industries, e.g. aerospace, maritime and civil, are expected to bring significant improvement in operation safety and great benefit in reducing maintenance cost.Read moreRead less
Realizable Synchronization Techniques: Unlocking the Potential of Future Wireless Networks. Wireless networks are undergoing an exciting paradigm shift from carefully planned cellular networks to heterogeneous networks (coexistence of a multitude of base stations of different types), where users may also be equipped with wireless energy harvesting capability. A fundamental requirement of these next generation technologies is the need to achieve synchronisation among the different base stations a ....Realizable Synchronization Techniques: Unlocking the Potential of Future Wireless Networks. Wireless networks are undergoing an exciting paradigm shift from carefully planned cellular networks to heterogeneous networks (coexistence of a multitude of base stations of different types), where users may also be equipped with wireless energy harvesting capability. A fundamental requirement of these next generation technologies is the need to achieve synchronisation among the different base stations and mobile users. This project will develop the fundamental theory and advanced synchronisation techniques for future wireless networks. The expected outcomes will enable wireless networks to meet the increasing demand for higher data rates and extend the battery life of mobile users, benefitting the consumers and the Australian economy.Read moreRead less
Creating a Perceptive Mobile Network Using Joint Communication and Sensing. This project aims to develop foundational technologies for an innovative perceptive mobile (cellular) communication network that is also capable of ubiquitous radio sensing. It is expected to generate groundbreaking theorems and algorithms that will significantly advance the knowledge of joint communication and sensing. The intended outcomes are an innovative large-scale sensing solution capable of real-time 3D-plus radi ....Creating a Perceptive Mobile Network Using Joint Communication and Sensing. This project aims to develop foundational technologies for an innovative perceptive mobile (cellular) communication network that is also capable of ubiquitous radio sensing. It is expected to generate groundbreaking theorems and algorithms that will significantly advance the knowledge of joint communication and sensing. The intended outcomes are an innovative large-scale sensing solution capable of real-time 3D-plus radio imaging of the world, and enhanced communications with improved quality and reliability. The technology will revolutionize traditional communication-only mobile networks. It will enable and boost expansive radio sensing applications in e.g. transportation, energy, agriculture, and security.Read moreRead less
Physical Layer Security for Wireless Machine-Type Communications. This project aims to provide new understanding and design guidelines to secure wireless communications among low-cost resource-constrained devices. This is achieved by advancing the fundamental theory of an emerging security paradigm named physical layer security. Expected outcomes of this project include a communication-theoretic framework to characterise the secrecy performance of communications over wireless networks, followed ....Physical Layer Security for Wireless Machine-Type Communications. This project aims to provide new understanding and design guidelines to secure wireless communications among low-cost resource-constrained devices. This is achieved by advancing the fundamental theory of an emerging security paradigm named physical layer security. Expected outcomes of this project include a communication-theoretic framework to characterise the secrecy performance of communications over wireless networks, followed by novel signal processing and transmission designs. The research outcomes should provide innovative solutions to safeguard commercial and industry Internet of Things networks, benefiting Australia's digital transformation.Read moreRead less